Ironing table



June 5, 1956 w. KULICKE, JR

IRONING TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1955 June 5, 1956 F. w.KULICKE, JR

IRONING TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Filed Jan. 2, 1953 FreCZQ/MWKMJ- QM IQN N N United States PatentOIRONING TABLE Frederick W. Kulicke, Jr., Mount Airy, Pa., assignor toProctor Electric Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application January 2, 1953, Serial No. 329,200

' 10 Claims. (cuss-121) This .invention relates to adjustable andcollapsible ironing tables.

The general structure of the preferred form of the present ironing tableis as shown in the copending applica tion of H. E. Hortman, Jr., SerialNo. 155,435, filed April 12, 1950, and the present invention may beregarded as providing improvements in such an ironing table.

The modern trend in ironing tables has been toward provision of a widerange of adjustability to permit ironing either while standing orsitting. Sit-down ironing has contributed greatly toward greater ease ofironing, as have also improvements which have been made from thestandpoint of ease of handling and adjusting the ironing table. Themodern trend has also been toward all-metal construction of ironingtables, and while such construction provides desirable strength andrigidity, the modern ironing table is necessarily of substantial Weightdespite the fact that the weight has been minimized as far as possible.The above-mentioned Hortman application and the copending application ofC. H. Rewald, In, Serial No. 193,943, filed November 3, 1950, now PatentNo. 2,701,425, dated February 8, 1955, represent advances in the art,both from the standpoint of easing the ironing task and from thestandpoint of easing or facilitating the handling and adjustment of theironing table. The present application represents a further advance inthese respects.

The principal object of the present invention is to pro vide anadjustable and collapsible ironing table which may be handled andadjusted with greater ease than has heretofore been possible.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ironing table which maybe adjusted to a large number of operating heights and is not limited toadjustment to a number of discrete heights.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed description in which the novel features will be particularlypointed' out.

A preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a bottom view of the collapsed ironingtable, with one of the legs broken away for the sake of illustration;

Fig. 2 is. a side elevational view of the collapsed ironing table, withcertain portions broken away for the sake of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on 11ne 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing theoperating mechanism for adjustability of the ironing table; A

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the manual releasingmechanism; 9

Fig. 9 is a partial longitudinal section taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 1,with some of the parts broken to enable inclusion of the illustrationwithin the available space;

Fig. 9a is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the jam plate;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the friction locking mechanism whichserves to retain the ironing table in any position of adjustment, theview being taken from below said mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the same mechanism taken from above thesame; and

Figs. 12 to 14 are views illustrating the handling of the ironing table.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 14, the ironing table comprisesa top 1 and crossed legs 2 and 3 pivotally connected at 4. Preferably,the leg 2 comprises a single elongate member with a transverse foot 5,while the leg 3 comprises a pair of parallel elongate members betweenwhich the leg 2 extends and which are provided with a transverse foot 6.The ironing table is preferably of allmetal construction, and thesupport-ing legs and their transverse feet are preferably of tubularform.

The top 1 is preferably of the construction disclosed and claimed in acopending application of H. E. Hortman, In, Serial No. 155,436, filedApril 12, 1950, now Patent No. 2,663,957, dated December 29, 1953. Suchconstruction comprises a sheet metal top member having longitudinalV-ribs 7, and transverse channel-shaped braces 8, 9 and 10, and also atransverse ribbed brace 11, the various braces being secured to the topmember and being located along the underside of the top substantially asshown in Fig. l. a The present invention is not concerned with thespecific structure of the top but in its preferred form, as illustrated,it utilizes the transverse braces to accommodate the operatingmechanism, as hereinafter described.

Referring now to the attachment of the legs to the table top, the upperend of the leg 2 is connected to the top by means of a fixed pivotconnection comprising a trans verse pin 12 fastened to said leg, forexample by being welded thereto, and bearing brackets 13 rotatablysupporting the pin 12 and preferably secured to the crossbrace 8. Theupper end of leg 3 is connected to the table top by means of a slidingpivot connection comprising a transverse pin 14 secured to said leg, anda pair of supporting guides 15 whose ends are preferably secured to thecross-braces 9 and 10, as by being welded thereto. The ends of pin 14are movably supported by channel-shaped sections formed in said guides.As may be seen in Fig. l, the legs are preferably offset with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the top 1, the purpose of this being to providegreater knee room during sit-down ironing. The transverse foot 6 of therear leg 3 is preferably provided with wheels or rollers 16, this beinga feature of the above-mentioned Rewald application.

As thus far described, the ironing table illustrated is of the characterdisclosed in the first-mentioned Hortman application No. 155,435. Inaccordance with the present invention, the ironing table is providedwith the mechanism now to be described for retaining the ironing tablein any desired position during use thereof. As will be seen from thesubsequent description, the mechanism provided by this invention greatlyfacilitates handling and adjustment of the ironing table.

As may be seen in Figs. 1 and 9, a rod 17 is arranged for slidablemovement at the underside of 'the table top and is connected to theupper part of leg 3. Preferably, one end of the rod 17 is looped aboutthe pin 14 between raised lugs 14a thereon, and the rod extends throughapertures 18 in the opposite sides of the channel-shaped brace 9. Atension spring 19 has one end secured to the rod-17 at 20, and has itsother end secured to the table top 1 at 21. The purpose of 'this springwill be described later. cooperatively associated with "the rod 17 is alocking member or jam plate 22 which is adapted to frictionally engagethe rod 17 and prevent movement thereof when'the ironing table is'set upa des iredposition of adjustment. "As ay be. seen in Figsf9f'to 11, aninverted LJ-shaped'member 23 disposed"wi thin the channelsha'ped brace 9and supported thereby. Themernber 23 has, a curved top 24 which isapertured at 25 to aceommodate the upper end of the jam plate 22, thecurved top providing clearance 'during pivotal action of said jam plate.The latter is apertured at 26 to accommodate the rod 17 which extendsthrough thejam plate; One side of member 23 is recessed at 27 toaccommodate the rod 17 and provide clearance therefor, whilethe oppositeside of member 23 isapertured and has an extruded inturned edge 28 whichserves to slidably support the rod 17. As may be seen in Fig. 4, theim'ember 23 is seated in the channel-shaped brace 9.between two of theribs 7a and 7b extending downward from the top 1. As shown in Figs.a'rid 'llpthe depending sides 29 and 30 of member 23 have square lowercorners which are adapted to engage the supporting brace, 9 and the ribs7a. and 7b (Figs. 4 and 5). The member 23 also. has" tabs31 extendingfrom its top which are adapted to extend into recesses in the ribs 7aand 7b, as may be seen in Fig. 4. This arrangement serves to index thebrace 9 in proper position, along the length of the ironing table duringassembly. Y

It will be seen that the locking member or jam plate 22 is pivotallyanchored to the table topby virtue of the fact that its upper end isretained in the aperture 25 in member 23 which is fixedly secured withrespect to the mp1. It will also be seenthat the jam plate 22 is movablebetween a position in which the axis of its aperture is aligned with therod axis and a position in which the aperture axis is at an obliqueangle to the rod axis, as shown by thebroken line and solid lineillustrations in Fig. 9. When the jam plate 22 is in the broken line position, the rod 17 is free to move, but when the jam plate is in itstilted position, it frictionally engages the rod "17 and locks itagainst'movementtoward the right as viewed in Fig. 9, 'The jam plateextends through an opening 9a in the bottom of the br'ace 9, and theopening 9d permits tilting of the jarn plate from the brokenlinepositiononlyin one direction as shown in Fig. 9, the left-handedge-of the opening preventing tilting of the jam plate in the oppositedirection. As may be seen in Figs. 9Ito ll, thejam plate has anextension 22a which causes it to gravitate to the respective positionsabovementioned when the ironing table is tilted upwardly (Fig. 12.) andwhen it is set up forfuse (Fig. 14).

It has been found that substantial chamfers on the edges of aperture 26(Fig. 9L1) of jam plate 22 with the edges 26a rounded,greatly increasesthe reliability of the jam plate lock without nicking the rod 17 "Withresulting loss offree movement thereof. It has also proven advantageousto use hardened steel for the jam plate while using cold-rolled steelfor the.rod-17 By virtue of the mechanism above-described, the user isenabled to collapse the table, set it. up. for use, or adjustit from oneposition to any higher position, without anyernanual operation of thejamplate 22; During collapsing or setting up of the ironing table, the jamplate gravitates to inoperativeor operative position without any efforton the part of the user. Duringadjustment from one position to a higherposition, the user is required merely to exert a slight lifting forceonthe top 1. In this latter connection, it should. be noted that whilethe tilted jam plate. 22 prevents movement of rod17 in a direction thatwould permit. collapse of the ironing table, i. e. toward the right inFig. 9, the jam plate does not prevent movementof the rod 17 in theoppositedirection. In other words, therod 17 andthe jamplate 22constitute a friction ratchet. Although the spring 19 tends to move rodv17 towardthe left asviewedinFig. 9,

thus tending to draw the upper ends of the legs toward one another, theweight of the top 1 overcomes this tendency. However, when the userexerts a lifting force on the top 1 to adjust the ironing table from oneposition to a higher position, the spring 19 is effective to move rod 17toward the left as viewed in Fig. 9, thus drawing the upper ends of thelegs toward one another. Furthermore, when a lifting foree is ex ertedon the top 1, the legs themselves tend to move toward a higher positionof adjustment due to the fact that they arepivotally interconnected at apoint well above the center ofgravity of each leg. The cooperativeactions of the spring 19 and the legs themselves; cause the table tomove to a higher position of adjustment in response to the lifting forceexerted on the tabletop. When the user releases the top the ironingtable is held in the higher position of adjustment by the locking actionof the jam plate 22 on the rod 17,.

The only time that manual actuation of the jam plate 22 is required iswhen the ironing table is set up for use and the user desires to lowerthe table to some lower position. This requires that rod 17 be permittedto. move toward theright 'as viewed in Fig. 9. and, therefore, itrequires some manual operation to move the jam plate from its tiltedposition to the releasing position shown in broken lines in Fig. 9. Forthispurpose there is provided a mechanism now to be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 to 8, within the channel-shaped brace9 there is provided a lever 32, preferably formed of sheet metal, whichis pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 33. An inverted hat-shapedmember 34 (see Fig. 8) is insertedthrough a ring-shaped portion 35 oflever 32, with the rim or flange 36 en gaging the raised periphery ofthe ring portion '35. The crown of the hat-shaped member 34 ispermanently secured to the base of the channel brace 9 as by spotwelding. Thus, the ring portion 35 of lever 32 is rotatably retainedby-the member 34. On the underside of the ring portion 35 are buttonprojections 37 which engage the bottom of channel brace: 9 and reducefriction.

One. end 3 8,of the lever 32 is eng ageable with the ja m plate 22 whilethe other end 39 is engaged by the end 40 of an, L -shape d manual lever41 having a long burr-free finger engaging portion 41a. The end 40 oflever 41 is U-shaped to receive and retain the circular end 39 of thelever 32 and is provided with an apertured lug 42 to receivelone.endofaU-shaped biasing spring 43. The opposite end of the spring 43 isanchored to a side of the channel brace 9 at 44. The spring 43.normallymaintains the lever. 32inan inefiective position so that its end 38isout Qf e a eme W th i m plate t n Proj and 46 on the endsof levers32and 41 serve to reduce friction.

The L-shaped lever 41v is rotatably mounted on the channel brace 9-at 47in the same way that lever 32 is rotatably mounted. A hat-shaped. member43. extends through a ring-shaped portion 49.. at the. junction of thearms of the L-shaped lever 41, and the hat-shaped member 48 is securedtothe base of the channel brace.9 as byspot welding. Button projectionsSO on the ring portion 49 reduce friction with the bottom of channelbrace 9. The end 51 of lever 41 is bifurcate d and engages the brace.11, as best shown in Fig. 7. Thus, the brace 11 serves to support therelatively long arm of the L-shaped lever 41,

As previously indicated, the only time when themansl asin t neeh nistn:s equa d. is he the r n table is set up for use and the user desires toloW he blsl t nt 2. P iti nv w r P s t n. t u m he-. .s=.r.. sa hesneath. h d o q th table top and draws the lever 41 toward theedge of the o -v This a ses; li ht: wetter-chem on; of lever.41, as, vie ed in Fig5, a Ild tl 'l l.l$ Cal1S 6S. clockwise qta n v r-1: wh see ad fizeneast e am Plate 22 and moves it from the locking position to thereleasingposition, as maybe seen in Fig. 9. During this operation, the user holdsboth side edges of the ironing table top, as shown in Fig. 14, andpermits the table to lower slowly. It should be noted that during thislowering operation the spring 19 serves to retard the lowering of theironing table because the spring resists separation of the upper ends ofthe legs. Thus, the spring assists the user during this operation. Whenthe table is in the desired position of adjustment, the user releaseslever 41, and the spring 43 moves lever 32 to its ineffective position,whereupon the gravity-biased jam plate 22 moves to its locking positionand locks the rod 17 against further movement. If the user inadvertentlycontinues to depress lever 41, the spring will help arrest the fall ofthe table, and complete fall will be prevented when the user releasesthe handle as the table lowers to a position below her usual reach. Thejam plate will normally be effective to support the table to apredetermined position, e. g. between one and two feet from the floor;beyond this point the jam plate will not engage the rod because of anecked-down area 17a provided near the spring end.

This provision prevents overstressing the support systern at the ratherbad amplification angles of the legs 2 and 3.

It has already been pointed out in the preceding description that thespring 19 plays an important part during raising and lowering of theironing table while it is set up for use. This spring also serves as acounter-balancing means during setting up of the ironing table asdepicted in Figs. 12 and 13. When the ironing table is not in use, it isdisposed vertically and is supported by the rear leg 3 whose foot 6engages the floor. In setting up the ironing table, the user grasps theupper end of the top and front leg, as shown in Fig. 12, then opens thetable and swings it about the foot 6 as a pivot, as shown in Fig. 13. Inthe position of Fig. 12, the gravity-biased jam plate 22 is ineffective,and it does not become etfective until the table has been moved to aboutthe position of Fig. 13. During the movement of the table from thevertical position to the position at which the jam plate 22 becomesefiective, the spring 19 counter-acts the tendency of the table tocollapse and greatly facilitates the setting up of the table. Were itnot for this spring, the setting up operation would be quite diificult,as the user would be required to exert special effort to prevent thetable from collapsing before the jam plate 22 becomes effective, therebeing a finite time required for gravity to rotate the jam plate 22 fromits inefiective position to its effective position. Thus, it will beseen that the spring 19 and the gravity-biased jam plate cooperate toprevent collapsing of the table during the complete setting upoperation, in which the ironing table is moved from the position of Fig.12 through the position of Fig. 13 to the position of Fig. 14.

In addition to the above advantages, there is another advantage whichresults from the combination of the spring and the gravity-actuatedfriction latching arrangement. Referring particularly to Figs. 9 and 14,when the operator commences to collapse the table by rotating the tableabout its rear foot member 6, the spring 19 .tends to pull the slidingpivot 14 toward the fixed pivot 13.

jam plate 22 in the direction of release.

In so doing, it tends to rotate the gravity-actuated Thus, as the tableis tilted the spring assists the gravitational action on jam plate 22 tohelp free the jam between it and rod 17, so that the table willcollapse. This particular advantage is especially noticeable when thereis a tendency for gall- 'ing, or fretting between the jam plate memberand the is that the release mechanism comprising levers 32 and 41 is notrequired to take any of the bearing load to help keep the board in anyadjusted position during use. The load is taken entirely by the jamplate 22.

A second important advantage, which results partly from the absence ofload on the releasing mechanism and partly from the arrangement shownutilizing two levers and two bearings therefor on a cross-brace, is thatthe parts of the release mechanism may be formed of light sheet metal.

Still another advantage of the release mechanism illustrated anddescribed is that it provides for easy operation by the fingers of onehand while grasping the edge of the table top. As described above, whenit is desired to lower the ironing table from one operating height toanother, for example from the solid line position in Fig. 14 to thebroken line position, the user grasps both side edges of the table topand it is a simple matter to draw the lever 41 toward the nearby edge ofthe table top with the fingers of the hand which is grasping that edge.When the ironing table has been lowered to the desired height, the usersimply releases the lever 41 and the spring 43 returns the leveragesystem to its inoperative position. It should be noted that the leveragesystem is unique in that it translates a small movement of lever 41laterally of the table top into a movement of the end 38 of lever 32longitudinally of the table top to move the jam plate 22 to itsinefiective position.

A further advantage is that the adjustment system greatly reduces thenoise present in previous ratchet adjustment type tables.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the inventionprovides an adjustable and collapsible ironing table which is easy tohandle and adjust, and which reduces to a minimum manual operations onthe part of the user. While a preferred embodiment of the invention hasbeen illustrated and described, the invention is not limited thereto butcontemplates such modifications and further embodiments as may occur tothose skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable and collapsible ironing table, a table top, a pairof pivotally interconnected crossed legs providing an adjustable andcollapsible support structure for said top, a fixed pivot connectionbetween said top and the upper end of one of said legs, a sliding pivotconnection between said top and the upper end of the other leg, 9. firstmember connected to and movable with the upper portion of said otherleg, at second member pivotally anchored to the table top and movablebetween a position in which it frictionally engages said first member toprevent collapse of the ironing table and a second position in which itreleases said first member to permit collapse of the table, said secondmember having its center of gravity offset from its pivot toward one endof the ironing table to gravitate to the respective positions whentheironing table is set up for use and when the other end of the ironingtable is tilted upwardly, spring means arranged to urge the upper end ofsaid other leg toward the upper end of the first leg to facilitatesetting up of the ironing table and raising thereof from one operatingheight to another, a lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends andengageable with said second member to move the latter to said secondposition, and manual means for moving said lever to its effectiveposition to release said first member during use of the ironing tablewhen it is desired to lower the table from one operating height toanother, said manual means comprising an L-shaped lever pivoted at thejunction of its arms and having one of its arms pivotally connected tosaid first lever and the other arm generally parallel to a side edge ofthe table top.

2. In an adjustable and collapsible ironingtable, a table top, a pair ofpivotally interconnected crossed legs providing an adjustable andcollapsible support structure for said top, a fixed pivot connectionbetween said top and the upper end ofione of said legs, a slidingpivot-connectionrbetween said top and the upper end of the other leg, achannel-shaped brace secured to the underside of said top and extendingtransversely thereof substantially the fullwidth of the top, said bracehaving sides extending transversely of said top and also having alignedapertures in thesides thereof, a rod connected to the sliding pivot andextending lengthwise of said top through said apertures, a frictionlocking member pivotally anchored within said brace and having anaperture through which said rod extends, said member being movablebetween a position in which it frictionally engages the rod and prevents collapse of the ironing table and a second position in whichthe-rod is free'to move and the table is permitted to collapse, saidmember having its center of gravity ofiset from its pivot toward one endof the ironing table to gravitate to the respective positions when theironing table is set up for use and when the other end of the ironingtable is tilted upwardly, a tension spring connected to said top and tosaid rod to urge said sliding pivot toward the fixed pivot to facilitatesetting up of the ironing table and raising thereof from one operatingheight to another, a lever within said brace pivoted intermediate itsends and engageable with said member to move the latter to said secondposition, spring means within said brace spaced from said rod and saidmember and biasing said lever to ineifective position, and an L-shapedlever pivoted at the junction of its arms Within said brace and havingone of its arms pivotally connected to said first lever and the otherarm extending from said brace generally parallel to a side edge of thetable top.

3. An ironing table according to claim 2, including a second transversebrace engaged by the end of said other arm and serving to support thesame.

4. In an adjustable and collapsible ironing table, a table top, a pairof pivotally interconnected crossed legs providing an adjustable andcollapsible support structure for said top, a fixed pivot connectionbetween said top and the upper end of a first leg of said pair, meansproviding slidable and pivotal interconnection between said top and theupper end of the second leg of said pair to enable adjustment andcollapse of the ironing table, friction latch means connected to saidtop and to the upper end of said second leg for retaining said supportstructure in any position of adjustment and for permitting collapsethereof, said latch means comprising a smooth-surfaced elongate memberextending longitudinally of said top and connected to the upper end ofsaid second leg, and a member pivotally anchored to said top andtiltable about an axis transverse to the first member for frictionalengagement with the first member, said tiltable member having its centerof gravity disposed on the side of a vertical line drawn through saidpivotal mounting which side is nearest to the upper end of the first legto urge said tiltable member into latching position when the table is inhorizontal operative position, and on the opposite side of said verticalline to urge said tiltable member away from said latching position assaid table is tilted from said horizontal operative position about anaxis extending transversely of said table with the end of the tableadjacent the upper end of the second leg elevated, and spring meansinterconnecting relatively movable parts of said table structureconsisting-of said legs and said top and positioned and stressed to'urgethe upper end of said secondtleg toward said first leg.

5. In an adjustable and collapsible ironing table, a table top, a pairof pivotally interconnected cross legs providinganadjustable andcollapsible support structure for said; top, a fixed pivot connectionbetween said top and the upper 'end ofafirstleg of said pair, meansproviding slidable-.and'pivotal'interconnection between said top and"theupper endofthe second legof said pair to enable adjustment andcollapse of the ironing table, friction latch means connected to-saidtop and to the upper end b v l of saidsecondi leg for. retaining saidsupport structure vin any" position of adjustment: and for permittingcollapse thereof, said latch: means comprising a smooth-surfacedelongate member extending longitudinally'of said top and connectedtotheupper endofsaid other leg and amember pivotally anchored to saidtop and tiltable about an axis transverse to the-first member forfrictional engagement with: the first member, said tiltable memberhaving its center of gravity disposed on the side of a vertical linedrawn through said pivotal mounting which side is nearest to the upperend of the first leg to urge said tiltable member intolatching positionwhen the table is in horizontal operative position, and on the oppositeside of said vertical line to urge said tiltable member away from saidlatching position as said table is tilted from said horizontal operativeposition about an axis extending transversely of said table with the endof the table adjacent the upper end of the second leg elevated, andmanually-operable means for moving said tiltable member to non-latchingposition during use of the ironingtable when it is desired to lower thetable from one operating height to another.

6. In an adjustable and collapsible ironing table, a table top, a pairof pivotally interconnected crossed legs providing an adjustable andcollapsible support structure for said top, a fixed pivot connectionbetween said top and the upper end of a first leg of said pair, meansproviding slidable and pivotal interconnection between said top andtheupper'end of the second leg of said pair to enable adjustment andcollapse of the ironing table, friction latch means connected to saidtop and to the upper end of said second leg for retaining saidsupportstructure in any position of adjustment and for permittingcollapse thereof, said latch means comprising a smooth-surfaced elongatemember extending longitudinally of said top and connected to the upperend of said second leg, and a member pivotally anchored to said top andtiltable about an axis transverse to the first member for frictionalengagement with the first member, said tiltable member having its centerof gravity disposed on the side'of a vertical line drawn through saidpivotal mounting which side is nearest to the upper end of the first legto urge said tiltable member into latching position when the table is inhorizontal operative position, and on the opposite side of said verticalline to urge said tiltable member away from said latching position assaid table is tilted from said horizontal operative position about anaxis extending transversely of said table with the end of the tableadjacent the upper end of the second leg elevated, a lever pivotallysupported intermediate its ends and engageable with said tiltable memberto move the latter to nonlatching position, and manual means for movingsaid lever during use of the ironing table to effect release of saidlatch means when it is desired to lower the table from one operatingheight to another.

7. In an adjustable and collapsible ironing table, a table top, a pairof pivotally interconnected crossed legs providing an adjustable andcollapsible support structure for said top, a fixed pivot connectionbetween said top and the upper end of a first leg of said pair, meansproviding slidable and pivotal interconnection between said top and' theupper end of the second leg of said pair to enable adjustment andcollapse of the ironing table, friction latch means connected to saidtop and to the upper end of 'said second leg for retaining said supportstructure in any position'of adjustment and for permitting collapsethereof, said latch means comprising a smooth-surfaced elongate memberextending longitudinally of'said top'and connected to the upper end ofsaid second leg, and a member pivotally anchored to said top andtiltable about an axis transverse to the first member forfrictionalengagement with the first member, said tiltable memberhaving its centerof gravity disposed on the side of avertical line drawn through saidpivotal mounting which side is nearest tothe upper end of thefirstleg'tourge saidtiltable member into latching position when the table isin horizontal operative position, and on the opposite side of saidvertical line to urge said tiltable member away from said latchingposition as said table is tilted from said horizontal operative positionabout an axis extending transversely of said table with the end of thetable adjacent the upper end of the second leg elevated, and a tensionspring having one end connected to said top and its other end connectedto said elongate member to urge the upper end of said second leg towardthe upper end of the first leg and tending to relieve said frictionalengagement, said spring serving to facilitate setting up and collapsingof the ironing table and to enable raising thereof from one operatingheight to another merely by exerting lifting force on the table top.

8. In an adjustable and collapsible ironing table, a table top, a pairof pivotally interconnected crossed legs providing an adjustable andcollapsible support structure for said top, a fixed pivot connectionbetween said top and the upper end of a first leg of said pair, meansproviding slidable and pivotal interconnection between said top and theupper end of the second leg of said pair to enable adjustment andcollapse of the ironing table, friction latch means connected to saidtop and to the upper end of said second leg for retaining ,said supportstructure in any position of adjustment and for permitting collapsethereof, said latch means comprising a smooth-surfaced elongate memberextending longitudinally of said top and connected to the upper end ofsaid second leg, and a member pivotally anchored to said top andtiltable about an axis transverse to the first member for frictionalengagement with the first member, said tiltable member having its centerof gravity disposed on the side of a vertical line drawn through saidpivotal mounting which side is nearest to the upper end of the first legto urge said tiltable member into latching position when the table is inhorizontal operative position, and on the opposite side of said verticalline to urge said tiltable member away from said latching position assaid table is tilted from said horizontal operative position about anaxis extending transversely of said table with the end of the tableadjacent the upper end of the second leg elevated, a tension springhaving one end connected to said top and its other end connected to saidelongate member to urge the upper end of said second leg toward theupper end of the first leg and tending to relieve said frictionalengagement, said spring serving to facilitate setting up and collapsingof the ironing table and to enable raising thereof from one operatingheight to another merely by exerting lifting force on the table top, andmanually-operable means for moving said tiltable member to non-latchingposition during use of the ironing table when it is desired to lower thetable from one operating height to another.

9. In an adjustable and collapsible ironing table, a table top, a pairof pivotally interconnected crossed legs providing an adjustable andcollapsible support structure for said top, a fixed pivot connectionbetween said top and the upper end of a first leg of said pair, meansproviding slidable and pivotal interconnection between said top and theupper end of the second leg of said pair to enable adjustment andcollapse of the ironing table, and friction latch means connected tosaid top and to the upper end of said second leg for retaining saidsupport structure in any position of adjustment and for permittingcollapse thereof, said latch means comprising a smooth-surfaced elongatefirst member extending longitudinally of said top and a second membertiltable about an axis transverse to said first member and engageablewith the first member in frictionally latched relationship thereto, oneof said members being fixed longitudinally of said top and the otherbeing connected to and movable with the upper end of said second leg,and means pivotally mounting said second member for tilting movement toand from said frictionally latched relationship under the force ofgravity, the center of gravity of said second member being disposed onthe side of a vertical line drawn through its pivotal mounting in adirection to urge it into latching position when said table is inhorizontal operative position, and on the oppo site side of a verticalline drawn through said mounting to urge it away from said latchingposition as said table is tilted upwardly from said horizontal operativeposition about an axis extending transversely of said table.

10. In an adjustable and collapsible ironing table, a table top, a pairof pivotally interconnected'crossed legs providing an adjustable andcollapsible support structure for said top, a fixed pivot connectionbetween said top and the upper end of a first leg of said pair, meansproviding slidable and pivotal interconnection between said top and theupper end of the second leg of said pair to enable adjustment andcollapse of the ironing table, friction latch means connected to saidtop and to the upper end of said second leg for retaining said supportstructure in any position of adjustment and for permitting collapsethereof, said latch means comprising a smooth-surfaced elongate firstmember extending longitudinally of said top and a second member tiltableabout an axis transverse to said first member and engageable with thefirst member in frictionally latched relationship thereto, one of saidmembers being fixed longitudinally of said top and the other beingconnected to and movable with the upper end of said second leg, andmeans pivotally mounting said second member for tilting movement to andfrom said frictionally latched relationship under the force of gravity,the center of gravity of said second member being disposed on the sideof a vertical line drawn through its pivotal mounting in a direction tourge it into latching position when said table is in horizontaloperative position, and on the opposite side of a vertical line drawnthrough said mounting to urge it away from said latching position assaid table is tilted upwardly from said horizontal operative positionabout an axis extending transversely of said table, and spring meansinterconnecting relatively movable parts of said table structureconsisting of said legs and said top and positioned and stressed to urgethe upper ends of said legs toward each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS358,660 Hammer Mar. 1, 1887 804,244 Messer Nov. 14, 1905 1,609,716Holden Dec. 7, 1926 1,982,205 Doman Nov. 27, 1934

